Tata Rev. Dr. Sam Otteh Esale, a native of Dikome Balue village in the Balue Clan of the Oroko ethnic group, is a founding member of the mother chapter, the Georgia Chapter, and of the Oroko Cultural Association USA.
He was the force behind the formation of OCA-USA while serving as President of OCA-GA, which hosted the maiden National Convention in 1997.
He was democratically elected as the pioneer President of OCA-USA and served for one year before taking a leave of absence from the organization.
He hosted and chaired the first constitution committee meeting that drafted the first bylaw for OCA-USA. During his tenure, a major project known as the Oroko Marketing Board was initiated, though it did not come to fruition after he took leave of absence.